Bottling of liquids



May 24,, 1932. E. B. THUBRON BOTTLING OF LIQUIDS Filed-Oct 19 26 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W [mus /or 'ZB T/mfiron E. B. THUBRON BOTTLING 0F LIQUIDS May 24, 1932.

Filed 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 24, 193 2.

E. B. THUBRON BOTTLING OF LIQUIDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [770677/0) T/iuron wrfiv W Jr:

Filed 001;. 22, 1926 Patented May 24, 1932 WWW M rts; se er ERNEST BLAKE-Loci; rnueito'n, or NAPIER, new zEALAu-D sm me or mourns g Application filed. October 22, 1926, Serial No.143,438, aiiainneiv zeaia'ndiidve ber 14. 925."

M This invention relates to the bottling of liquids, and provides an improved method of, and apparatus for the aforesaid purpose. 3 v At the present time in the bottling of 5 liquids it is .necessary to leave the bottles either open to the atmosphere ,-or to open the same to the atmosphere at intervals, to allow the air displaced by the liquid to escape, the bottles and their contents being furtheraopenled to the atmosphere prior to the sealing of:

the bottles Which is a step performed independently of the filling operation.

' Disadvantages arising from the above mentioned operations, are that the filling of.

175 the bottles is retarded by the air therein, and

theopening ofthe bottles to the atmosphere 7 renders the bottles and the contents thereof, .such as milk, liable to contamination, and

a when dealing with liquids under pressure, results mum; loss of pressure, and the loss of gas usedin the manufacture of aerated bev-Z erages, and further it is necessaryto employ separate means for sealing thebottles. IThe present invention has the object of overcoming the disadvantages aboveenumerated, and in generalqa' view of providing a method of, andv apparatus, which will en- I able liquidsito be bottled more economically and under better hygienic conditions than those attendant upon present day bottling methods and apparatus.

charging the latter With liquid, so that the outlinterruption, Whether under pressure, or

simplyby gravity, While a further and i111 I portant feature ,Ofthfl invention, is that-the bottles and their contents-are not opened to 4 the. atmosphere, until such time as'the bottles are opened for use, sealingof the; latter being eifected'in the same appa'ratusas that from which the bottles are evacuated of \21112L11C1" K atmosphere.

If necessary liquidto he placed the bottle head;

latter Will-readily pass to the bottles Withcompanyingdrawings,vvherein:

pressure generated: by the gas mixed'wviththe liquid',, to the bottles.

filling and sealing of the bottles tovbecarried f 'out asbefore described, comprises a machine having mounted thereon a bottling h-eadfin communication With a source, of vacuum and} also p $0106 penedwhen required to a i reservoir containing'li quid tobebottledm p A support for the bottles, presses the V V mouths of the latter up into the head, Where-' f in is provided a ring or cushion of soft mate rial for: contacting-With'the bottle and sealing the entrance to the head, While operable vertically inthe latter, is a piston ad'apted to Contact with the bottle closure, "and' capable ofbeing used to force sealed bottles from the The pistoncan also be used for thepurpose l of lifting theclosure'to be .used in or on the bottle, clear of the mouth thereof While :the bottle is evacuated of air and 'c harged with liquidafter which-the closure is applie'dxtoq the bottl'eyand the latter ejected from- -the 1 An essentialyfeature of the invention, is the removal of air from theabottles beforez head vby the piston.

The invention Will ihotveven'b'emore Spartieularlyf described with the:aid of the ac and L fFi'gure 3isa vertical section of the bottling;-

head as used inFigTures l and E2, and adapted i Figure '5 is a sectionalphnvi'ewtakenon a the line AA,Figure 3, butshowingalternative means forrretainingfthefcrown corks in '1' their raised positions, r 5

Apparatus for enabling the evacuating, 60 a 1, Figurezl isa side elevation of themachine, v i Figure 2 a partiele vation ofthe opposite I i v sideof the same,

fFigure 6 is a part elevation andipart sectionalelevatio'n showing the construction'and mounting of the bottle supporting table.

. Figure 7 is a detail in elevation of the foot actuated means for operating the table.

Figure 8 isv a detail in elevation, of the coin V 'trol lever and means for operating the water control to the ejector, and. the vacuuin-control to the bottling head.

Figure 9 is a detail in elevation showing themeans for controlling-the supply ofliquid to the bottling head,

Figure 10 is a vertical section ofthe lower portion of a bottling head for use in bottling milk, and

Figurell is avertical'sectio-n of the upper- 'portion of said heachwhile s Figure 12 is a sectionalplan view r taken Figure 13. is a sectionalelevation of a water operated ejector foreXhausting-air from the bottling head. v p g 7 The machine comprises abase 1 from which rises a hollow column 2, on. which is supported a liquid reservoir 3,a' bottling head 4,. a) bottle guide 5,-a bottle supporting table 6,

Y andan ejector or air eXha-uste'r .7. v l j To the'base 1 is pivoted at 800a footlever 8,

the latter beingconnected a link 9 with 30 one end of a tension'spring 10 located in the 2 column 2, and having its other end connected by'a rod or the like 11, providedwith one or 7 more adjusting nuts '12, with the upper end- =1 of said column 2.

The' foot' leverf8 is slotted and' pivotally I connectedtothe lower end of. a vertical rod 13, the upper end of which isente'redi'n the 1 hollow stemof the bottle supporting tablejfi,

. (Figure 6j) the latter havinga pad of rubber or the'like '14, recessed therein and being op;

. erable v'erticallyin abracket 15 clamped or 's'ecuredtothe hollow column 2. at the desired '2 justed as.required. Alsosaid footlever 8 has" height thereon.

united by .a coupling-16 (Figure 1) screw threaded with right and left'handed threads to enable the length of the rod tobe adpivotedat its outer end a'pedal 17 (Figures 11 and 7 provided with a catch 18 adapted I 1 tobeyengaged in notches 19 in quadrant 20 secured' to the base 1, or other convenient partof the'ma'chine, said pedal 17 being proi vided with a kick out trigger 2 1 for: disen- "gaging .the catchf18 from any; notch 19 of 1 the quadrant '20 inwhich it may be engaged.

" Mounted on thebracket'lainwhich the aforesaid table 6,'works, is'across shaft :22

'hand levler 23, and a pair of arms 24, the "lat- E ter passing-lone'yat each side of the table r bracket 15'," and having their "outer ends slotted i to 'r'eceivethe ends iof a cross pin 25 lentered lin'a" slot =26, in the vertical rod 13 aforesaid, said pin 25 being se cured tothe The rod 13 is preferablyiin'two portions,

(Figures 1 and 6).having-keyed thereonfa stem of the table 6, and operating vertically in slots 27 provided in the portion of the bracket '15 in which the falls. Also mountedon the table bracket j 15,

table stem rises and clamped on the hollow column2, is afurther cross shaft 28 (Figures 2' and .6) the latter having secured thereon a further hand lever 29 and an. arm 30 provided with a tooth 30a adapted to engage over the npperedge of the table 6, and in a recess orfnotch-31 (Figure 1 6.) therein' This last 'mentionedarm '30 isprovided with a spring 32 for causing its tooth 30a to engage the table 6 and also with a stop 33 for limiting the movement of the, arm away from the table .6, and the spring 32 is designed to. be compressed-between thearm' and column2 and the stop 33 to strike the latter. I

I Thebottle guide 5is'attached to abracket which isadjustably clampedto the hollow columnq2 and saidguide is provided forensuring the correct positioningofthe bottle in relation'tothe bottling head of the-'ma-' chine.

The table'6 can be raised and lowered to bringa: bottle 35 placed' thereon, to the posi'- tions' required in evacuating, filling 'and' crowning or sealing,.-.by operating either the foot lever 8 orthe hand lever 23 ontheshaft 22-havi1'1g the arms 24pivotedto the cross pin 25 secured through the table stem. and

the required positionscan be obtained: either by engaging-the catch 18 onthe pedal17 in; i the notched quadrant 20 as is necessary,iorl

by causing the toothed arm '30-aforesaid -to' engage the table '6 as beforementioned.

Crowning or sealing of the bottle35 can be.

effected either by the contraction offlthe ten.- sion spring 10in thehollow column 2, which 23 to obtain the-necessary upward movement of the table6 and bottlethereon.

is utilized to force the table (Sand bottle? 35 upwards, or byoperatingjlthe handllever created'by the latter in the bottling hea dA, i

are bothi controlled a singlehandlever 39 keyed on a shaft .40. mounted? on one of the supportingbrackets 36. i-j

inately opposed forked extensions 41a one' of control valve 38, bothva'lves being spring which passes upon the stem of the wat'er con- 1., I V trol valve 37,, While the other .of-sa id eXten 25' sions 41a passes upon the stem ofthe vacuum loaded to normally close while :their stems"- are provided with'nuts 42 against forked extensions 41a work.

I Theforked extensions' ll'a and thefriuts This shaft .40" (Figures: 1, 2 and a s keyed'on oneend aboss 41 having approXi- "sage76a inthe rod 76 and piston 75', when vacuum connection is made at 82 between-the an external ring 7 8 the latter resting under t'he influence of a spring 79, in compression on the inner ringfil around the lowerportion of the head 4;; said spring 7 9 lsurrbunding the 7 sleeve 77 and .beingcompressedbetween the ring :78 on the later, and the cap 58.

The piston rod 76 has secured' thereto, cross pins 82 which work in vertical .slots 80 in l thesleeve77, the s'lots80 in the sleeve 77 pe mitting air to be exhausted from the interior of the head through the central vertical pasupper portion of the head and the airex- V hausteror ejector 7. v.

:The evacuation through 82 is for pur-,

." pose out-{evacuating thehead, and is only necessaryfor equalizing the pressure above and below the cap thereby preventingfstr'ain upon thecap due to the air pressure and also preventing 'possib'lepremature closing of the,

a cap uponthe bottle; The port 7% is closed Y byflthecap and the evacuation offthe bottle itselff is madejthrough the '"port 65." T

. A verticallro'd 83 entered in the=sleeve it above, the piston rod 76 between which the i said verticalrod a coiledvspring 84 is placed,-

passesthrough thegstullingbox 59-011 the cap 58,-:and i's pivotally connected to. a. slotted handlever j85,"(FiguresI'and 2) pivoted to a -sion'spring 10 in said'columnQ.

bracket 861011 the hollow column-2, saidj hand lever 85 passing through the'latter and a linkor loop lla inthe rodill attached to theten;

' 'The' piston rod 76 normally'hangs by means off the pins 82 in the-bottom of the sl'ots'80 inrthe sleeve 77 so that'the'lower edgeof'the lpiston-i75fislevel with'the opening in or entrancef to the retaining r ing160, andwith crown fcork in positiongover the opening 1-1 in the chute '70, the operations in evacuating abotte of jair, fillingsame with liquid and i securingj the'fcrown cork on-vthe bottle area's? i by me ans ofthe hand lever 23 and allowing" the tooth .30a 'of the'jarm' 30'-to-engage over V g The table e follows; I r

cork chute 70. This adj ustnient can be ob- V V 'tained feitherbydepressing thew-foot lever 8;

andfengagingthe catch l8 in asuitable notch in the quadrant 20-or by depressing thetable the upper ed gef 'of s'aidj table. l The table 6 i withthe;bottlef-thereonis th r to ascend 'by 'firstfdisengaging the catch 80a effected either per medium 23jorjthefoot leverv'Bmf The desired position oftheftable 6 to bring the bottle mouth to just below the lower ends of the passages 6701 as shown'dotted' ii -Figs,

. e V v is adjusted so that when' the bottle is stood thereon,'its mouth is ashortdistance below the opening? 1; in, the crown i from over its edge by means of the handlever 2.9,,and either operating the handle lever-23 o to forcethe bottle upwards, or bydis'engag; .ing thecatch 18 from theiquadrant 20, to allow the spring 10 to draw thefoot, lever 8 and rodzl3 upwards, Upward movement of the bottle causesthe moluth thereof to enter the opening 71 in the. crown cork; chute 170 and to contact with the crown cork over said 7 7 opening? 1', the crowncorkbeing forced up wardsagainst the piston 75. ward movement of the bottle raises the piston -75, the c ross pins 82 inthe rod '6 of which" ascend in the slots. in the sleeve 77; The

bottle is forced for enough upwards to cause the crown corkto enterthe tapered throat n .ico'lltinluede piece. 62 and to engage the inwardly spring, 3 pressed L shaped members 72,Vwhich' arelo- 7 cated above the V downwardly and inwardly inclined passages-'67 throughfthering 63.: H

-The table- 6 is then lowered tobring the bottle mouth just below the; loweri ends 0t; V the passages 67, leaving'the crowng cork re Q tained in the throatgpieceby the L -shaped members 72, the lowering ofthe table being v r .90. .of 'the handlever .ure 3,is obtained by either; allowing the tooth 30a on the arm 30ito engage in 'theinotch 3l on thetable 6, or by engaging the catch 18 in a. selectedznotoh' 19, in the'quadrant 20.; 1 7 With the -;b.ottle. in this "position, liquid under pressure is allowed to enter the annular or hollow rubber ring 66 and the latter I caused to grip the bottle neck or mouth, all:

round, and effectivelyseal'the entrance to the head against theladmission; of air. If desired ,thetable 6 can be furtherloweredand the bottle left hanging fromthe head. @The control lever 39" is then moved to open the; valves. 37, and '38,"an'd the' vacuumjpreated,.- exhausts the air from the bottle, through the 'headoandupon' thedesired degree of vacuum; ;being obtained said valves 37 and 38 are again i closed, after which the control lever 39 is 1 V 1 further operated tojppen the'fl valve ,44; and

permit liquid to' pass from i 'the reservoir 3 throughthe headinto the bottle,-and upon.the latter being-filled to the desired level, -they supply of liquid is.cutofl;ilfthe'yreservoir 3 doesnot happento be under. vacuum air f can be 'exhaustedfrom'the bottle after. filling so as toremove the'airfroni the contents of? c the latter a 1 g1 By: then forcing the bottle upwards, either by a qui ck'movement of the hand leverj23,.

or "by kicking the trigger -2l to' release-the foot; lever i8 and permit the latter to move f suddenly upwards "under the action of, thespring1O, the bottle mouth and thecrown cork; 7'. .above sameare'forcedupwards -into1 theta-1 pered throat piece 62; which lattercauises the! toescape andthe :tableG lowered and the.

crown cork to be secured over andito seal the 7 bottle mouth. a g i i 1: The pressure in the ring then allowed bottleremoved fromthe'head;

The numberof reservoirs'3 need.notnecesr sarlly be l1m1ted to one, as two ormoreeach connected with the bottling head, andpr0- vided with separate cocks for controlling the I passage of their contents 'tothe headcan be used, and if desired one of said reservoirs can be used for gas'alone. Also it is'immaterialwhether the vacuum connection to the head, act through the ring 63 or through the top of the head," as before mentioned, while the latter is also provided with a vacuum gauge 87. 1

-Alternative means for retan'nng the crown corks in their raised positions within the head pins. 88 caused'to project horizontally, slightly into the head, under the action of spring (Figure .5).

4, can consist of ll hendeaIing with bottles adapted to be closed by a disc,vsuch as is fitted to milk bottles, the bottling head (Figures 10,11

and 12) comprises, a hollow casting 89'adapted to be secured to a casing 90 supported by a bracketifrom the hollow acolumn 2, a

piston rod 91 passing through the casing 90, while the piston 92 on said rod 91 is operable within the casting 89.

tion on' said head by a'retaining ring Q tmade to :screw on to the head. i If desired the retaining ring 94: can beprovided "with a handle 94w or with flats to enableit to be screwed up. to'compress the rubber mouthpiece to the re'quireddegree; V v

A liquid inlet 96 opens into thehead, a short distance abovethe rubber; mouth piece 93, and is provided with a nipple 97 adaptedj to be connected with-a reservoir, containing} the liquidto be bottled, i

Internall the head, isgat a distance above the inlet 96 reduced in diameter to,pr0vide a circular stop 98 while a short distance below said stop smallpins are caused to normally project slightly into the head under the action of springs. I The diam it is .a neat work ng of, and an the. leather or rubber 92d otithepiston and the body thereof. a my The pistonrod 91 does not fit its casing 90 which is'made air tight atthetop by a suitable gland and packing 90a. Also the rod 91,,contains a vertical port 100 which communicates at its lower end with the space in the head below the piston 92 and at its top end said port1100 connects witha radialiport :101 ("Figure .11) opening into theicasin'g 90s.

.V'lheiinterior of the piston rodfcasingiflO communicates twiththe airexhausteriorlej ect-l er preferably by aconnection from-a nipple.

I act in, the casingx90 and" also ithro'ughggthe port :100 in the roda91fand' in the space -inthe;; i

. head :below the piston 92 The piston rod 91 is initwo' Greatest upper portion screwing into-"the lower per-1 fiat f f tion and passing through the gland at; the topof thecasing 90 and being connected to a hand lever 103mountedsimilar1y to the handv lever 85, and bymeans of which the piston 92,.c'anfberaised and lowered in thelle Ldg i Vertical'recess'esIM (Figures'lOand212),; 17 provided in the internal-surface ofthe rcast' I 1 ing-'-89, open'at their lower-ends; intofthe interior'space of the head b'elowithe circular stop98 andat their upper lendsintousaid latter is raised, i

interior-space above the piston 92,when the It is desirable whenbottling liquidslsuchf as milk which are easilycontaminated or are I I susceptible to prevailing odours, toipreventt theinterior of the bottles, aiter th'ellatterl have vbeen washed,frombeingsubjectedto;

such odours, and also to keep: the milk from before being exposed to the aide-they are sealed or closed bymeans'jof',the iclosuresr which will be ultimately permanently secured? 1 0i 3 I The closed bottles after 1 I necessary or" desirable) arethen passed to the therein.

bottling apparatus, the operationflofn which 'when adapted for bottlingunilk undervace-l uum is as follows' -1The bottle with theusuallpaper or ea uboard disc 105inserted in its mouth, is placed on the table 6, and the utter allowed to 'rise i undertheaction of the spring'lgOin theicoli-f umn2,=until :the disc 105 contactsawith theT g leather or rubber 92a' of the piston 92;

" Thelatteris then movedupwardsby ineans- T ofvthe' hand lever 103 thebottleiollowing und erthe"action; of the spring 10,

v 3 At the commencement of the upward move' ment ofthe'piston 92 a lower radialf'port1O6- (Figu eroyfin the'rod 91, whichjwas open totheTinterior-of theheadand consequently alsoto the air therein, owing to thepiston 92 notfitti'ng-the lower portion ofjthe-head,"

ismoved-upwards'soas to be 'closed'tothe interior'of'the 'head, whereupon "themai n I" port lOOinthe rod 91 in communication with. the piston rod casing 90, throughthe port 101*, is placed under vacuum; acting through 1 the casing 90 andnipple 1Q2 connected with the pipe fl9 from-the jejec'tor --'Z-fai1d said vac 1 cardbo'ard-disc l05 j wOontinued upward movement. of ithe pis no 'uum acts on the paperor in e'bottle mouth. 'f

contacting with thela'tter. w'Therefore. in}. 95 s me'diately'the bottles havebee'n'washed and .Theheadis prov-idedaround its lower edge or mouth with a rubber mouthpiece 93 shaped to receive-the bottle mouth and held in posi-.

from the :piston 9 2. .As soon as. the. piston 92 and disc 105 have passed the spring-pressed ipins in thehead, said-pins 95. which v have been pressed inwards by the piston and disc, project-into the head again, and prevent the disc 105 from descending-until s'uch' time'as itis forced downwards by the pistonj92;

JVacuum acting through-the main port inithe piston rod'91 and the recesses 10 1," exhausts the air from the'bottle and when the desiredF'degreelofvacuum is obtained'therein liquid is {permitted to'pass to' the head and from-.' the latter into" the bottle; After' the. liquid has reached the desired level in ithe bottle the. supply thereof is cut ofiand if de sired the air can be exhausted from the liquid contained in the'bottle by allowing the vacun'm toi icontin'ue acting therein; Following this the pi'stonv92- is moveddownwards byfthe handfl'ever 103 to first force thediscJ105' firmly into the mouth of'th'e bottleto seal v same,- and secondly to' eject the bottle mouth]- fromthe head, the vacuum acting on -the disc l 05 through the port 100 being destroyed by the air, allowed to 'enter the head on the unsealing'thereo'f by downwardmovement of j theibottlemouth, passing via the now opened lower radial, port 106, in the rod 91 tothe 'ma-in port 1001mm latter, whereuponythe bottle whichhas beenevacu'ated of .air,'fi1le;d and sealed under vacuum, can be removed from the apparatus. 1 r 1 A suitable form of air exhausterfor use -with. the apparatus before; described, :eomprisestheejector 7, having-aicasing 107 (Fig. lire-1'3) adapted to be put in communication 7 through the pipe 49with whichever bottling head'issbeing use'd, and-containingan upper; member .108 formed'with a downwardly --ta-' [pered passage opening intoa' passage which increases in diameter downwards,-;while be- 7 g low said lupperfmember is alowergmember- 5 109.f0rmed with 'a-downw'ardly tapered pasf' sage opening into a passage which: increases diameter. downwards, the "lower; member 109 screwing into the'lower portion of the easingl07, and the'upper memberlO S being. providedwith a. flange 108wwhichrests in; V a vrecessaround.the upper end of the casing; 1 107; Communication ,betw een the pipe 49 and the passageway, formed through the up- *perand' lower members 108,109 is provided betweenthebottomof the uppermember 108 I. an'dthe top ;of the lower member 109 the fformer'beingentered slightlyinthelatter. l

The watervcontrol valve 371i ngthe. water supply pip'e, IlO'to' the-ejector; comprises a" casing containinga downwardlytapered pas} W ipassagesin the: valve casing'fi: 7 X vat r. outlet'pipe 113 is connected tothe 'around said bottle located between said metalabove the bottling head connected to saidrod' piston rod. M y 2. ,Apparatus for bottlingliquidscomprisea r ing afbottling "head, means for placing athe? interior-of said bottling head under vacuum,"

means for passing a liquid through said head tie with "liquid. L'

sagei opening into passage whichiincreases in diameter downwards,a gate 111 operable by a sliding stem 112;passingthrough:astufling box 113fa-nd1into@ thezforked extension 11a (Figure '8) said gate- 1 11 fbeingl sl-idable. insaid valve casingfat thejnnctionfof the.

downwardly-g tapered and I downwardly [in- 1.

creasing passages therein forithe'purpose of.

. controlling; the passage ofwater through the:

passage Way provided bythe passages in the lower or discharge end of the ejector casing;

: What I do claim and desire to-obtainby' 9:

Letters Patent of the United States of Ameri ca is;' I i 1., Apparatus foribottling. liquids, com prising a bottlingrhead --in-communication with a source of vacuum and constructed-to" 35 be placed in communicationiwithfa'reservoir i for the liquidfto be bottled, means for press-i. inga bottle mouth and a closure therefor into said headymeansin said head. for applyingthe closure to the bottle mouth I to {seal theta} same, a metal ring through whichgair isex; Y hausted from said head. and the bottle" and through which the latter .is filled,"a retain ing ring secured. tofsaid head, an-expanding ring for sealmg the entrance to'sa1d head ring and said retaining ring a, chute for delivering bottleclosures to saidhea d, a piston; operating in said head, a sleeve in said-head for receiving the rod of said piston, said rod sleeve, a Vertical rod workingin said sleeve, a'hand lever mounted on a fixed: support and a connection between said rod. and said into a bottle'placed therein, means sealing said head and bottle opening'from the atmosposition during theperiodof evacuation-of air from said bottle and-the fillingofthe bot- (20* r In testimony whereof I'hav name 7 .to this specification. l

ERNEST BLAKELQCK, rniinnon'. if.

V V v p 100 being. fitted with pinsientering slots.inithe' 'islgned. In p 7 

